Recently purchased FJ40 - Looking for any recommendations!

[Rigsby92]

Hey all —
I recently purchased a 1972 FJ40, and while I’m really excited about it, I have to admit I’m not entirely sure what I’ve gotten myself into. The rig is in good shape with minimal rust, and I’ve been told there are no major mechanical issues (it’s currently at shop being looked at). From what I can see, the biggest challenge is the weathered interior.

I think I can handle a lot of the cosmetic interior work, but I’m debating what to do about the hard top. Should I try to restore the original or go for a new OEM one? attached some pictures for reference. The top looks pretty rough, but the seller mentioned that a lot of the damage is due to the headliner being removed, which left behind some adhesive residue that eventually built up mold and rotted.

I was quoted $1,000 to restore it, but he also mentioned I could just buy a new OEM top for $1,750. I’m leaning one way but would love to hear your advice.

Just for context, I picked this up for $10k, and I’m planning to put about $5-10k into it. Open to any thoughts or suggestions as I start this project.

 

[Pitter Patter]

Nice 40! A few things on the top. Where did you find an OEM one? If that’s true then snatch that up!

You can remediate the mold, there’s some really good marine products for mold. The next issue you have is there’s rust on the drip channel on the drivers side. Probably elsewhere too around the channel. The top is fiberglass with a metal channel riveted to the fiberglass. It’s a chore to replace the channel so if it’s in decent shape then remove the caulking, wire wheel the paint off and treat it with a rust product then recaulk and paint. Put a new headliner in it and move on. Be cautious of anyone else working on your 40, I’ve had nothing but bad experiences with other peoples work. Do it yourself.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I would take the top off flip it over and power wash off all the crap I could. Then bleach it to kill mold. After it dries, scrubb it hydrogen peroxide, let dry. The paint it with SnowRoof several times - use the whole gallon. Not a purest.

 

[Rigsby92]

Nice 40! A few things on the top. Where did you find an OEM one? If that’s true then snatch that up!

You can remediate the mold, there’s some really good marine products for mold. The next issue you have is there’s rust on the drip channel on the drivers side. Probably elsewhere too around the channel. The top is fiberglass with a metal channel riveted to the fiberglass. It’s a chore to replace the channel so if it’s in decent shape then remove the caulking, wire wheel the paint off and treat it with a rust product then recaulk and paint. Put a new headliner in it and move on. Be cautious of anyone else working on your 40, I’ve had nothing but bad experiences with other peoples work. Do it yourself.

Much appreciated! And apologies — I may have misspoke — it’s a newly made hardtop with the same “shape and profile” as OEM (learning the lingo). It’s not a bad price and it looks solid. But agreed, I think i need a new metal channel and that will require some work.

And thank you for the callout on the drip channel. That was my next question, but I wasn’t sure how to describe. Any thoughts on how to remedy that deterioration? Is this something I can expect to do myself?

Again, thanks for the feedback. Very helpful.

 

[Rigsby92]

I would take the top off flip it over and power wash off all the crap I could. Then bleach it to kill mold. After it dries, scrubb it hydrogen peroxide, let dry. The paint it with SnowRoof several times - use the whole gallon. Not a purest.

Noted, much appreciated. Thank you!

 

[pb4ugo]

If you use the search function in this section using hardtop drip rail or rain gutter. You will find multiple thread on the subject. You can also probably search hardtop headliner in 1 form or another. It all depends on how deep you want to go. You can do it. OEM hardtops are getting expensive. Yours looks in decent shape. It's best to keep the 40 original. The top is fiberglass so you can clean it or sanded it to get the glue off
Use a mask. Below is just 1 of the links I found searching.

Rain Gutter and Top Restoration

I posted a few pictures of my rain gutter on this thread and it appears most people think I should take it down and redo it completely: What condition is my gutter in? - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/what-condition-is-my-gutter-in.1278568/#post-14339479 Ok, I agree, if I am going to put a...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[cruisermatt]

What are your goals for the vehicle?
let your goals map your direction.
It looks like a pretty nice cruiser. If it were me I’d be putting the money into front disc brakes and power steering over a new hard top cap, but I like driving my trucks and don’t care about appearances as much.
Either way, you should install some 4-degree caster correction shims up front with that lift kit.

 

[1969FJ]

Those brake and clutch pedals look different than my stock system.

 

[charliemeyer007]

They look like mine but without the rubber boots.

 

[DPHFJ40]

CCOT sells the steel drip rails and aluminum rivets to refurb the top. The drip rail comes in 5 pieces--6 if you need to replace the section that bolts to the windshield. Requires some cutting, drilling and welding of the sheet metal pieces so if that's more than you're ready for you might want to buy the replacement top.

 

[DPHFJ40]

Make that 7 pieces around the perimeter.

 

[Paul_A]

That looks like a great rig to start with and I bet that top will clean up pretty good without disassembly. Fix the drip rail and flip it over and spray glue a replacement liner in it. Then drive it around topless

 

[mtn biker]

What are your goals for the vehicle?
let your goals map your direction.
It looks like a pretty nice cruiser. If it were me I’d be putting the money into front disc brakes and power steering over a new hard top cap, but I like driving my trucks and don’t care about appearances as much.
Either way, you should install some 4-degree caster correction shims up front with that lift kit.

I concur. Get your vision of it "completed" and work towards that. I would take care of the mechanical and safety issues before cosmetic. I say completed like that because they are never really "completed." I would rock it the way it is right now. But I had mine desert sand and patina and I changed the color of it. But yes find your own vision of it.

I would take the top off flip it over and power wash off all the crap I could. Then bleach it to kill mold. After it dries, scrubb it hydrogen peroxide, let dry. The paint it with SnowRoof several times - use the whole gallon. Not a purest.

That is kind of the way that I did it but I never popped the top because I didn't want to replace 50 year old seals. You can get a rubber wheel on a grinder but the problem is it might spin too fast and start taking the fiber glass. so maybe the pressure washer might be the better option.

 

[cims1970fj40]

Surprised no one has mentioned the bib and running lights not period correct for a 72. Either was nice looking rig.

 

[jim land]

And the windshield frame is 75-84

 

[aremell]

Earlier this year, I bought a hardtop for my 74 because they are not easy to find complete in my area, I thought it looked decent enough, and would be an easy add. Come to find out, the fiberglass cap was basically affixed to the metal sides / hatch by hopes and dreams as the metal drip rail had rusted away...

So I have gone down the road of trying to save the fiberglass cap, including buying the new drip rails (which yours will almost certainly need if you take it apart), powerwashing off the gunk that was left of the headliner, etc. I now have considerably more in the parts to fix it than I paid for the top! It will be great at some point, and is fitting with my patina-heavy franken-cruiser but none of it is cheap to fix. I'd budget $1,500 for what it would take to save yours if you do the work yourself.

 

[Rigsby92]

What are your goals for the vehicle?
let your goals map your direction.
It looks like a pretty nice cruiser. If it were me I’d be putting the money into front disc brakes and power steering over a new hard top cap, but I like driving my trucks and don’t care about appearances as much.
Either way, you should install some 4-degree caster correction shims up front with that lift kit.

Thanks for the feedback! I think my goal is to get this thing in good shape to drive around town on the weekends ( I live in beach town). I’m not looking to restore to pristine condition, but I would like to revert back to a more original style.

That said, I just purchased a saginaw power steering conversion and I’ll take a look at the caster corrections you mentioned. Thank you!

 

[Rigsby92]

CCOT sells the steel drip rails and aluminum rivets to refurb the top. The drip rail comes in 5 pieces--6 if you need to replace the section that bolts to the windshield. Requires some cutting, drilling and welding of the sheet metal pieces so if that's more than you're ready for you might want to buy the replacement top.

I found the drip rails as well, although, as you pointed out — it will take some work to replace. I don’t have any welding experience, so we will see how I approach this.

 

[Rigsby92]

If you use the search function in this section using hardtop drip rail or rain gutter. You will find multiple thread on the subject. You can also probably search hardtop headliner in 1 form or another. It all depends on how deep you want to go. You can do it. OEM hardtops are getting expensive. Yours looks in decent shape. It's best to keep the 40 original. The top is fiberglass so you can clean it or sanded it to get the glue off
Use a mask. Below is just 1 of the links I found searching.

Rain Gutter and Top Restoration

I posted a few pictures of my rain gutter on this thread and it appears most people think I should take it down and redo it completely: What condition is my gutter in? - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/what-condition-is-my-gutter-in.1278568/#post-14339479 Ok, I agree, if I am going to put a...

forum.ih8mud.com

Huge thanks for sharing. Will take a look. Thank you

 

[pb4ugo]

As others have said find a direction, start run and stop. Make it driver. Someone mentioned earlier, you can take the top off as 1 piece, flip it over and put a headliner in it.